Not just a sourcebook or a reference, but a complete multimedia guide, this innovative, comprehensive resource will help you stimulate the minds of your youngest patrons with rhymes, songs, fingerplays, books, and other creative activities. The engaging materials and methods in this book are equally useful for experienced children's librarians looking for new ideas and new librarians starting to build their own program for the very young. Through researching the latest in early learner and developmental theories, Ernst

• Carefully details the physical, mental, emotional, and social development of children 12 to 24 months
• Guides you through using Lapsit programming to perform effective outreach to all segments of your community
• Shows how to build and maintain effective partnerships with caregivers, child-care providers, early childhood educators, and others
• Offers tips for seeking funding for early childhood services

Linda L. Ernst was a children's librarian for more than 30 years. She led training workshops for the King County Library, Seattle Public Library, Everett Public Library, and the Sno-Isle Library System in Washington. She also gave workshops in Kentucky, Michigan, San Francisco, and Scottsdale, Arizona and presented conference programs at the Pennsylvania Library Association and the Washington Library Association. The Children's and Young Adult Services Interest Group of the Washington Library Association awarded Ernst the 2004 CAYAS Award for Visionary Library Service to Youth. She served as chair of the Early Childhood Programs and Services Committee for the Association for Library Service to Children and was a member of the 2007 Caldecott Award committee.